LEGAL action against Ancient County Investment Inc., of Tarlogie Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, has been reconsidered by the Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), following settlement of its debts with farmers.
RPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj, said legal action was the last resort and, since the monies owed were paid, the legal proceedings were discontinued.Some $300M had been owed to farmers supplying the mill and dozens of them protested at the Ancient Country Investment Inc. base on December 27, after the cheques issued by the company were dishonoured by the bank.
The protesters were even more peeved when told that the company would not have been conducting business that day and, therefore, they could not meet with any of its representatives.
The issue of non-payment to farmers has plagued the rice sector as a major challenge and Seeraj told the Guyana Chronicle that a meeting, between the Association and rice millers, is planned to address that among other concerns.
“There are several issues we want to have sorted out with the millers before the end of the first crop for 2014,” he said.
According to him, visits were also paid to farmers in the rice growing regions to ensure they were in receipt of monies owed them.
Meanwhile, the production target for the first crop of 2014 is 270,000 tonnes.